Finding e/m

Purpose

The purpose of this lab is to determine the charge to mass ratio of the electron.

Equipment

Pasco Model SE-9638 E/M Apparatus Digital Multi-Meter, DMM

Power Supply, Elenco Lead, Banana/Banana (7)
Power Supply, Pasco Model SF-9585A Computer - for analysis

Typical Setup

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 Introduction

The PASCO Model SE-9638 e/m Apparatus provides a simple method for
measuring e/m, the charge to mass ration of the electron. The method is similar to that
used by J. J. Thompson in 1897. A beam of electrons is accelerated through a known
potential, so the velocity of the electrons
Figure 1
is known. A pair of Helmholtz coils
produces a uniform and measurable
magnetic field at right angles to the
electron beam. This magnetic field
deflects the electron beam in a circular
path. By measuring the accelerating
potential (V), the current to the
Helmholtz coils (I), and the radius of the
circular path of the electron beam (r),
e 2V
e/m is easily calculated: = 2 2 .
m B r
(The calculations are explained in a later
section of this hand out.)

IMPORTANT: The circular electron beam should be large enough (adjust

magnet current) so that it extends equally above and below the scale. This will be a
judgment call on your part but it is a crucial part of the lab experiment. The path of the
beam should cross the scale at a right angle to it.

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 Equipment Description

The e/m Tube—The e/m tube (see Figure 2) is filled

Figure 2
-2
with helium at a pressure of 10 mm Hg, and contains
an electron gun and deflection plates. The electron
beam leaves a visible trail in the tube, because some
of the electrons collide with helium atoms, which are
excited and then radiate visible light.
The electron gun is shown in Figure 3. The heater
heats the cathode, which emits electrons. The
electrons are accelerated by a potential applied Figure 3

between the cathode and the anode. The grid is

held positive with respect to the cathode and
negative with respect to the anode. It helps focus
the electron beam.

Caution: The voltage to the heater of

the electron gun should NEVER exceed
6.3 volts. Higher voltages will burn out
the filament and destroy the e/m tube.

The Helmholtz Coils—The geometry of Helmholtz coils—the radius of the coils is equal
to their separation—provides a highly uniform magnetic field. The Helmholtz coils of
the e/m apparatus have a radius and separation of 15 cm. Each coil has 130 turns. The
magnetic field (B) produced by the coils is proportional to the current through the coils.
The Controls—The control panel of the e/m apparatus is straightforward. All
connections are labeled. The hook-ups and operation are explained in the next section.
Cloth Hood—The hood can be placed over the top of the e/m apparatus so the
experiment can be performed in a lighted room.
Mirrored Scale—A mirrored scale is attached to the back of the rear Helmholtz coil.
This scale is illuminated by lights, which automatically turn on when the heater to the

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electron gun is powered. By lining up the circular electron beam with its image in the
mirrored scale, you can eliminate the effect of parallax in the measurement of the radius
of the beam path.

Procedure

Measuring e/m
1. If you will be working in a lighted room, place the hood over the e/m apparatus.
2. Flip the toggle switch up to the e/m MEASURE position.
3. Turn the current adjust knob for the Helmholtz coils to the OFF position.
4. Connect your power supplies and meters to the front panel of the e/m apparatus, as
shown in Figure 4 (below). (Full picture—last page. Figure 5)

Figure 4

5. Adjust the power supplies to the following levels. The voltmeter in Figure is not
necessary because the meters on the Pasco SF-9585A power supply are of the
same quality. (Note: Make sure all settings are in the zero position before turning
on the power switch.):

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 Electron Gun
Heater: 6.3 VAC or VDC
Electrodes: 150 to 300 VDC
HelmHoltz Coils: 6-9 VDC

Caution: The voltage to the heater of

the electron gun should NEVER exceed
6.3 volts. Higher voltages will burn out
the filament and destroy the e/m tube.

6. Wait several minutes for the cathode to heat up. When it does, you will see the
electron beam emerge from the electron gun.
7. Slowly turn the current adjust knob for the Helmholtz coils clockwise. Watch the
ammeter and take care that the current does not exceed 2 A. The field from the
Helmholtz coils will curve the electron beam. (Check that the electron beam is
parallel to the Helmholtz coils. If it is not allow your instructor or lab tech to
adjust it.)
8. Carefully read the current to the Helmholtz coils from your ammeter and the
accelerating voltage from the voltmeter on the Pasco power supply. Record the
values in the data table

9. Carefully measure the radius of the electron beam. Look through the tube at the
electron beam. To avoid parallax errors, move your head (up-down and side-side)
to align the electron beam with the reflection of the beam that you can on the
mirrored scale. Measure the extent of the outer edge of the beam as you see it on
both sides of the “zero” on the illuminated scale, and then average the results.
This is your measured value of the radius. Record your results in the data table.

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 Note 1: To ‘line up’ of each beam. Move the head left to right and up and down.
Note 2: By using the current adjust; try to make the line of sight on the beam cross
the scale in a perpendicular manner.

10. There is only ONE correct value of the electron beam radius. It will be the same
for every set of magnet current and electron gun voltage measurements. Your task
is to achieve that radius, measure it accurately and precisely and to repeat the
process for a total of five (5) sets of magnet current and beam voltage.

Data Analysis
Accel Magnet Current^2 Beam Radius
Data Set
Voltage (V) Current (A) (A2) (cm)
1
2
3
4
5

GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Plot a graph of V vs I^2 using Excel. Fit the data with a linear trendline and
determine the slope and the uncertainty in the slope (using LINEST). The value of the
slope is the value of V/I^2 that you will use to determine your experimental value of
the electron’s e/m ratio. Slope of the “V”
3 vs “I^2” graph
5
2  a2
=   2 (V / ( I ) )
e v 4 2
=
m Br (N µ0r )

Report - This lab requires a full formal report. Follow the directions in the hand out
“Format for Formal Lab Reports.”

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 APPENDIX - Analysis of e/m Measurement

The magnetic force ( Fm ) acting on a charged particle of charge q moving with

velocity v in a magnetic field (B) is given by the equation
Fm = qv × B ,
(where F, v, and B are vectors and × is a vector cross product.) Since the electron
beam in this experiment is perpendicular to the magnetic field, the equation can
be written in scalar form as:
Fm = evB Equation 1
where e is the charge of the electron.
Since the electrons are moving in a circle, they must be experiencing a centripetal
force of magnitude
mv 2
Fm = Equation 2
r
where m is the mass of the electron, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of the
circular motion. Since the only force acting on the electrons is that caused by the
magnetic field, Fm = Fc , so equations 1 and 2 can be combined to give

mv 2
evB =
r
or
e v
= Equation 3
m Br
Therefore, in order to determine e/m, it is only necessary to know the velocity of
the electrons, the magnetic field produced by the Helmholtz coils, and the radius
of the electron beam.
The electrons are accelerated through the accelerating potential V, gaining kinetic
energy equal to their charge time the accelerating potential. Therefore
1
eV = mv 2 .
2

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 The velocity of the electrons is therefore:
2
 2eV 
v=  Equation 4
 m 
The magnetic field produced near the axis of a pair of Helmholtz coils is given by
the equation:

B=
[Nµ 0 ]I Equation 5
3
 5 2
  a
 4
A derivation for this formula can be found in most introductory texts on
electricity and magnetism.
Equations 4 and 5 can be plugged into equation 3 to get a final formula for e/m:
3
5
2V   a 2 Do not use this form of the
e v  4 equation to calculate e/m.
= =
m Br (Nµ 0 Ir )2
where:
V = the accelerating potential
a = the radius of the Helmholtz coils = 15.0 cm
N = the number of turns on each Helmholtz coil = 130
µ 0 = the permeability constant = 4π × 10 −7
I = the current through the Helmholtz coils
r = the radius of the electron beam path

(e/m) accepted = 1.7589 x 1011 C/kg

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Figure 5

on
AC
CE V mA

50 V Adjust 500 V Adjust off

Pasco 3A Reset
Scientific AC MAX
SF-9585A
+500
-50V
V
0

Volts Amps

Elenco Precision 28VDC

XP-800
0-40VAC 0-28VDC

Voltage
Adjust

Helmholtz Coils Current Adj e/m Experimental Apparatus

Voltmeter Deflect Plates Electrodes Heater
Focus

Note: The digital ammeter is not shown is this diagram. It is shown, however, in Figure
4. The digital voltmeter shown in Figure 4 is not necessary due to the precision of the
Pasco unit.

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